Rosaura "Rosie" Garcia

Rosaura "Rosie" Garcia, age 78, passed away peacefully after a valiant battle with a chronic illness on Monday April 27th, 2015 surrounded by her loving family.

Born October 11, 1937 in McAllen, Texas, she was the youngest of six children born to Rebecca and Mariano Garcia. She was raised in McAllen, where she attended McAllen High School. She excelled academically and in choir, always remembering the teachings of her director Mr. Bev Henson. She graduated from McAllen High School in 1957 with honors. She went on to study Nursing and received her designation from the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1960. She went on to have a satisfying nursing career in McAllen, working for several physicians. She often spoke of Dr. Lauro Guerra and Dr. Ivan Kuhl who she counted among those who taught her much of what she carried forward throughout her life.

In 1966, she moved to Southern California where she continued to practice nursing in the hospital setting; first at Mercy Hospital then at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center San Diego. After a distinguishing career, she felt it necessary to return to her roots. She moved back to Texas and in 1978, she established what would be her last home in Brownsville. She worked as a Department Secretary for the Department of Education at Texas Southmost College, then went on to work for Atari Ampliphone as the company nurse. Her family enjoyed the benefits of the job as Rosie shared the employee extras of Atari game systems and games with everyone.

Rosie went on to work as the office manager for Roger's Produce and during the 1980 Hurricane Allen, her family enjoyed the benefit of this job because Rosie made sure the fruit was bountiful. Her daughter remembers that while she worked there, she always smelled like apples. Perhaps the most rewarding job was her last. She joined the Cameron County Auditor's Office in 1986 where she was responsible for the Indigent Health Care Program. She was an integral part of the inception of the program and worked closely with the county auditor as well as the county officials to develop and maintain the program from its infancy. She was proud of the relationships she developed and the lives the program was able to touch. She retired in 2001.

Rosie loved traveling to Mexico. She enjoyed her family there, the food and the culture. She enjoyed dancing and singing and aspired to sing on stage. She loved the beach, family bar-b-ques and political functions. She did crossword puzzles every day and was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan. Rosie was also an avid supporter of three generations of nephews who played little league baseball - always promising a "Whataburger for a hit"�½. In retirement, Rosie most enjoyed spending time with her grandson. From playing in the dirt to listening to him play his euphonium, she was the quintessential grandmother. Her dream was to watch him walk the stage and receive his high school diploma, which he will proudly do in her honor on June 9th, 2015.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Rebecca and Mariano Garcia: her siblings: Raul Garcia, Genaro (Gene) Garcia and Rebecca (Becky) Meyer; her sister-in-laws, Marjorie Garcia and Barbara J. Garcia; a nephew, Alex Garcia; a niece-in-law, Lois Garcia and a niece, Mary Elizabeth Meyer.

She is survived by her daughter Lisa Ann Garcia (Hermerlinda Mendez); her grandson, Jacob Blair Garcia-Gonzales; her granddaughter, Ashley Ingram; her sister, Delfina Medina all of Brownsville and her brother, Mariano Garcia Jr (Maria Mercedes) of California as well as all her special nephews, nieces, and cousins from Texas to California and in Mexico. She is also survived and will be missed by her caregiver and friend, Rosie Cantu.

As per her wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in the East Chapel at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home with the family starting to receive friends at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Rosie's name may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc., P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312; 1-800-342-2383 and www.diabetes.org; or to the American Heart Assoc., P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, TX 75284-1125, www.heart.org and 1-800-242-8721.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, May 3, 2015
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Service

Celebration of Life Service

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, May 3, 2015
2:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions

P.O. Box 11454
Alexandria, VA  22312


P.O. Box 841125
Dallas, TX  75284